Tractor planter



` May 25, 1943- B. R. BENJAMIN l TRACTOR PLANTER Filed Deo. 18, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 25, 1943. B. R. BENJAMIN TRACTOR PLANTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 18, 1941 UAW @N Patented May 25, 1943 Bert R. BenJamin, Oak Park. llll ternational Harvester Comp of New Jersey asslgnor to Ina corporation Application December 18,1941, Serial No. 423,506 (el. 11i-'35) 9 Claims.

This invention relates to tractor-mounted planters and, more particularly, to the hill-drop mechanism therefor. v

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hill-drop device for planters which can be selectively operated either by a check-wire device or a power take-off mechanism on a tractor.

it is another object oi the invention to pro-r vide a fertilizer dispensing mechanism for a planter with the hill-drop mechanism that can be operated by a check-wire operating device or by a power take-olf device, wherein fertilizer will be hill-dropped the same` as the seeds are hill-dropped, and thus to economize on thel fertilizer used in a planting operation.

It is still another object of the invention to provide common means lfor supporting the respective furrow openers and spouts of the respective fertilizing. and planting mechanisms,

wherein the same may be adjustable longitudinally. depending upon the desired spacing of the seeds in the plant row: that is, the devices are adjustable for planting of seeds and the bunching of fertilizer at distances of, say, from 14 inches to 42 inches apart, depending upon the nature of the crop being planted.

It is still another object of the invention to provide in a planting arrangement for tractors a common means for supporting the hill-dropA structure and the check-wire device.y

According to the present invention, there is connected to the tractor a seed dispensing mechf anism and a fertilizer dispensing mechanism, one located in advance of the other and so spaced that fertilizer will be dropped in a bunch either by a check-wire mechanism or by power takeoff mechanism'associated with the tractor at a time previous to the dropping of the seed. As-

sociated with each of the fertilizing and planting 'i mechanisms isa hill-drop structure, and these structures areconnected together to be operated simultaneously by either the check-wire device or the power take-olf mechanism. These hilldrop devices are mounted on a common supporting frame, separate from their hoppers which are carried directly on the tractor. and for vertical movement to and from a ground-working position. On this common'supporting means for the hill-drop structure the same may be adjusted longitudinally depending upon the desired spacing between the seeds beingplanted along t thevrow. As seeds are deposited'in one location, fertilizer is deposited in advance thereof at another location. 'I'he timing is such that, as the tractor moves along, the next planting of the seed will take deposit of fertilizer and. at the same time. another deposit of fertilizer will be made in advance of this planting. The power take-olf mechanism is correspondingly arranged and adjusted so that the depositing of seed will take place at a. location of the previous depositing of fertilizer.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a tractor with the combined fertilizer; and seed planting arrangement embodying the features of the presi ent invention connected thereto; Figure 2 is a the combined arrangement and showing the plantingl and fertilizer devices on both sides of l line 4-4 o f Figure 3 and looking in the direc l tion of the arrows-thereof.'

Referring now `there is shown portion II supported on a dirigible wheel struc'- ture I2 adapted to be steered by a steering mechanism I3 accessible to an operators station I4 located on a rear portion I5 of the tractor. The rear portion I5 .is supportedv on traction drive wheels I6 and has a power take-off device Il. To the forward portion Il of the tractor is respectively connected at opposite sides thereof a transversely extending beam member I8. 'I'his beam member has an attaching plate I9 adapted for the securing of the beam to the side wallf of the tractor by. means of bolts 20. t To-'each beam IB is connected a bracket structure 2i to which is connected a pair of upper and lower parallel particularly to Figures 1 and 2,

links 22 and 23 on the lower end of which is a rigidly connected longitudinally extending rig I with a manually operable adjusting mechanism y 21 having a hand lever 28 accessible to the operators station I4. 'I'he forward end of the lift pipe 26 is connected with the rig structure 24 by means of a lift rod 29. This lift rod 29 carplace adjacent to' the previous check-wire device and the plan view of the tractor andof a tractor I 0 having a forward ries a usual .pressure spring 36 which functions in the well-known manner to maintain the working toolsv carried by the rig structure 24 in their ground-working position. As the lift pipe 26 is advanced forwardly, the lift rod 24 will cause the rig structure to be raised and thereby eect lifting movement of the same with the links 22 and 23 pivoting about the bracket 2i. The mechanism thus far described is provided on both sides of the tractor, as shown in Figure 2.l

Also on both sides of the tractor there is provided a `fertilizer dispensing mechanism, indicated generally at 32, and a seed dispensing mechanism, indicated generally at 33. The fertilizer mechanism 32 includes a hopper structure 32a having a supporting bracket 34 adapted to be attached to a transversely extending bar 35 carried by the tractor and to be secured to said bar 36 by a set screw 36. The fertilizer mechanism also includes a hill-drop structure 31 'adjustably carried on the longitudinally extending rig structure 24. As shown more clearly in Figure 2, the hill-drop structure 31 includes separable parts 36 and 36 which are shaped to nest the rig structure 24. These parts 36 and 38 are clamped together by clamping bolts 40, whereby, the hill-drop structure 31 can be rigidly secured to the rig structure 24. Upon unloosening the clamping bolts 46, the hill-drop structure 31 may be adjusted longitudinally along the rig structure 24. The hill-drop structure 31 carries a furrow opening element 4i and a spout 42 adapted to receive fertilizer from the fertilizer hopper 33 through a exible tube 43. On the lower end of the fertilizer spout 42 is provided a pivoted valve 44 adapted to be operated by an upwardly extending link 46 connected at its upper end to a bell-crank 46 pivoted to the hill-drop structure 31 at 41. To this bellcrank 46 is connected a tension spring 46 which acts upon the same and through the link 45 to maintain the valve 44 normally in its closed position. These elements provide the hill-drop structure with an operating mechanism.

The seed dispensing mechanism is constructed similarly to the fertilizer mechanism and includes generally a hopper structure 60 supported on a transversely extending bar I rigidly connected to the tractor Aand a seed spout structure 62 adjustably connected on the longitudinally extending rig structure 24. Even the seed spout structure 62 `is similar to the fertilizer spout adjustment of the structures 31 and 62 along the rig structure 24. l

Referring now particularly to Figures 3 and 4, it. will be noted that there is provided on the connecting element 63 an inwardly extending transverse supporting structure 62. This transverse supporting structure carries on its inner end a transversely extending bolt 63. This bolt is so alined that it will be engaged by stop elements 64 carried on a chain drive means 66. The chain drive means 66 is connected with drive mechanisms 66 and 61 of the respective hopper devices 33 and 66 for driving the same in unison.

structure 31, and thus by unloosening clamping nuts 63, the same can be adjusted along the rig structure 24- By having these spout structures so connected with the rig structure that the same may be adjusted longitudinally along the same, and with respect to each other, diilerent spacings of seed may be had by the planting arrangement.

The seed spout structure 52 includes a seed spout 64 on the lower end of which is a valve 55 operated by a link 66 connected to a bellcrank 61 on the upper end of the structure 62. Acting upon'the bell-crank 61 is a tension spring 56 which tends to normally maintain the valve 55 in its closed position. These elements provide the hill-drop structure with an operating mechanism.

Extending between the bell-cranks 46 and 61 is a longitudinally extending connecting element 59 having holes 66 and 6l therein by means of which the bell-cranks are respectively connected at locations upon its length depending upon the wheel 1l.

These driving mechanisms 66 and 61 tend to maintain an even ilow of fertilizer and seed to their respective hill-drop devices 31 and 52. Intermediate the hopper structures 32a and 56 are located chain` tightening wheels 66 and 66 over which the chain is guided for maintaining the same in proper driving relationship with the driving mechanisms 66 and 61. In order to maintain the chain drive 66 in proper relation so that stop element 64 will be maintained in vertical alinement with the belt 63, there is provided a guide roller 16.

It should now be apparent with these stop elements 64 on the chain drive mechanism, that as the bolt 63 is engaged by the same. the connecting element 66 will be carried forwardly to cause lrotation of the bell-cranks 46v and 61 n for the ultimate operation of the valves 44 and 56 of the respective hill-drop structures 31 and 52. As soon as the valve cranks have rotated a suillcient distance, the bolt 63 will leave the stop element 64 and the connecting element 66,

and the valves 44 and 66 will be returned to.

their previous normal position by the springs 46 and 66. 'Ihe bolt 63 is then in position to be engaged by a succeeding stop element 64 on the chain drive means 66. These stop elements 64 are spaced to open the valves 44 and 66 at the proper time. The spacing on the chain drive 66 will depend upon the spacing of the hill-drop structures with respect to each other. Thus, for. s a given spacingfof the structures 31 and 62, the

spacing of the element 64 on the chain drive 66 is such that the hill-drop structures will be operated a second time when the tractor has advanced so that the position of the hill-drop.

structure 62 will be in the position of the hilldrop structure 31 when it was last operated to In this second position, feri deposit fertilizer. tilizer will again be dropped in advance of the seed. In rear of the structure 62 is a covering As the tractor progresses along the field, the covering wheels 1i will close the turrows opened by the furrow openers associated with the hill-drop structures 31 and 62. As

viewed in Figure 2, it will be noted that each set of furrow openers is laterally spaced with respect to the other so that fertilizer will be kept properly spaced from the seeds. It is also noted that the covering wheel 1l is of suiilcient width to include the iurrows formed by both of the furrow openers of the respective hill-drop devices 31 and` 62.

Thus far there has been described one means for operating the hill-drop mechanisms in unison.

There will now be described another means which a may be used for operating the hill-drop mechanisms. This other meanstakes the form of a check-wire operating device indicated generally at 13. This check-wire device 13 is carried by the transversely extending beams i6 and includes a shaft 14 which extends laterally from one sido l 62 carried by the o! the tractor to the other and has on each its ends a trip fork 'l5 adapted to receive ai check wire 'it having the usual spaced buttons l1. As these buttons l1 are received by the fork arm 1l. the shaft 14 is pivoted forwardly and this movement ls imparted by means of a link Il to the connecting rodv 59. This link I8 is connected by an arm 'Iton the shaft ll through which rearward movement is imparted to the link. The link i8 is connected at its rearward end to the connecting elementlis at Bil.v Rearward movement is thus given to the connecting element 50, and the valves 44 and 55 will consequently be opened periodically as the tractor advances over the field. When the check-wire device is being used for operating the hill-drop device, the bolt u will be removed Afrom the supporting structure connecting element 69 so that the stop element 64 `of the chain drive means will not engage the same. v

- It should now be apparent that there has been provided for use with a planting structure a fertilizer mechanism whereby fertilizer can be hill-dropped the same as is the seed hill-dropped to thereby provide a planting-structure, wherein an economy will be made of fertilizer at the time of the planting of the seed. It should also be apparent that this arrangement is adapted for connection with a tractor, and that the arrangement is so designed and constructed that the hill-drop mechanism can be operated by the check-wire device or by the power take-oil mechanism of the tractor.

vWhile various changes may be made in the detail construction of the arrangement, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present-invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a tractor having a power take-off mechanism, fertilizer dispensing mechanism connected to the tractor, seed planting mechanism connected to the tractor, hill-drop devices associated with each of the respective fertilizer -and seed mechanisms, a check-wire operating device carried by the tractor, chain drive means adapted to be driven by said power take-oil.' mechanism, and said check-wire device and chain drive means being respectively arranged to be selectively connectable to the hill-drop devices for operating the same, whereby said hill-drop device may be operated by either said check-wire device or said drive chain means.

2. In a combined fertilizer depositing and seed dispensing arrangement, a supporting structure. a fertilizer dispensing mechanism connected to the supporting structure, a seed depositing mechanism connected to the supporting structure. each of said mechanisms including a hill-drop structure, the one hill-drop structure being located in advance of the other a distance equivalent to the desired spacing between seed in the planted row, means for simultaneously operating the hill-drop structures at intervals timed to the advanced movement of the supporting structure and so that a deposit will be made bythe rearwardly disposed hill-drop structure adjacent to the deposit previously made by the forwardly disposed hill-drop structure.

3. In a combined fertilizer dispensing and seed dispensing arrangement, a supporting structure, a fertilizer dispensing mechanism connected to the supporting structure, a seed dispensing mechanism connected to the supporting structure. each of said mechanisms including a hill-drop wardly disposed hill-drop structure adjacent to A;

the deposit previously made by the lforwardly disposed hill-drop structure and at least one of the said hill-drop structures being connected to the ysupporting structure for longitudinal adjustment whereby the sainel may be setfor of the seeds in the planted row.

4. In a combined fertilizer and seed dispensing arrangement, a supporting structure, a iertilizer dispensing mechanism connected to the supporting structure, a seed dispensing mechanism connected to the supporting structure, each o! said dispensing mechanisms including a hilldrop structure, tilizer mechanism being located in advance of the hill-drop 'structure of the seed dispensing mechanism adistance equivalent to the desired spacing between seed in the planted row, means for simultaneously operating the hill-drop structures at intervals timed to the advanced movement oi.' the supporting structure such that a deposit will be made by the hill-drop structure of the seed dispensing mechanism fertilizer deposit previously made by the hilidrop structure of the fertilizer depositing mechanism.

5. In combination, a tractor, a transverse beam different spacing connected to the tractor to extend transversely from its side, a tool-supporting rig and means for connecting the same to the transverse beam for vertical movement, a, dispensing mechanism including a hill-drop structure connected to the tool-supporting rig, and a check-wire device for operating the hill-drop structurecarried by the transverse beam and adapted to be actuated by the check-wire running adjacent to the side of the tractor, whereby said transverse beam serves to jointly support the rig and the check-wire device.

6. In combination, a tractor, a transverse beam connected to the tractor to extend transversely from its side, a longitudinally extending tool-supporting rig-1ocated adjacent to the side of the tractor, the transverse beam for vertical movement, a fertilizer dispensing mechanism including a hilldrop structure connected to the tool-supporting rig, a seed dispensing mechanism including a hill-drop structure connected to the tool-supporting rig, and a, check-wire device for operating the hill-drop structures carried by the transverse beam and adapted to be actuated by the check-wire running adjacent to the side of the tractor, whereby said transverse beam serves to support jointly the rig with hill-drop structures and the check-wire device.

7. In combination, a tractor having a power take-off mechanism, a transverse beam connected to the tractor to extend transversely from the side thereof, a tool-supporting rig located adjacent the side of the tractor, means for connecting the rig to the transverse beam for vertical movement, a, fertilizer dispensing mechanism including a hill-drop structure carried by the tool rig, a seeddispensing mechanism including a 4hill-drop structure carried by the rig, a checkwire device carried by the transverse beam, and means for selectively connecting either the power the hill-,drop structure of the feradjacent to the means for connecting the rig to i take-olf mechanism or the check-wire device with the hill-drop structures.

8. In a combined fertilizer and seed dispensing arrangement, a supporting structure having a longitudinally extending rig, a fertilizer dispensing mechanism on the supporting structure and including a hill-drop structure mounted on the longitudinally extending rig, a seed dispensing mechanism on the supporting structure and including a hill-drop mechanism mounted on the longitudinally extending rig and longitudinally spaced from the fertilizer hill-drop structure including an operating mechanism and at least one of said structures being longitudinally adjustable on the longitudinally extending rig for different spacing of seeds in a planted row, means for connecting the respective operating mechanisms together, means the operating mechanism of at least one ofthe hill-drop structures to the said latter connecting for adjustably connectingA means, and means for actuating saidl connecting means to eilect hill-dropping of the fertiiizerkand the seeds. l

9. In a combined fertilizer and seed ldispensng arrangement, a supporting structure having a longitudinally extending rig, a fertilizer dispensing mechanism on the supporting structure and including a hill-drop structuremounted Aon the longitudinally extending rig, a seed dispensing mechanism on the supporting structure LAand including a hill-drop mechanism mounted on the longitudinally extending rig and longitudinally spaced from the fertilizer hill-drop structure.

each of said hill-drop structures includingan operating mechanism, two separate mechanisms alined for operating said hill-drop structures, and means for connecting one of said mechanisms to the hill-dropy structures exclusivelyof the other of said mechanisms.

v BERT R. BENJAMIN. 

